Reinier de Ridder ready to give career all ‘his heart’ but says winning isn’t everything

Former two-division ONE world champion ‘The Dutch Knight’ Reinier de Ridder is motivated to return to the Circle and give it everything he’s got to earn redemption.

De Ridder’s torch was unceremoniously snuffed out in his last bout in December, as he fell via a shock knockout to the marauding Anatoliy Malykhin. It marked the first loss in the Dutchman’s previously unblemished record.

In a recent interview with ONE Championship, De Ridder talked about his comeback fight next month and how he’s ready to give it his all.

‘The Dutch Knight’ said:

“I’ll do this fighting thing with all my heart. I’ll give all my time and all my energy, and I’ll go harder than anybody else in the gym. I’ll give everything for it. Sacrifice everything I can sacrifice for it.”

At this stage in his career, however, De Ridder says he views losing as just part of the game. The formerly undefeated fighter believes that as long as he’s healthy and that his family is alright, he will do just fine in life.

“But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. The result doesn’t really matter. I’m okay. Regardless, as long as the kids are fine, they’re happy, I can be myself around them, then that’s enough. If it doesn’t go my way, if I get hurt … to be honest, as long as the kids are fine, I don’t give a f*** about myself. I’m alright. I’ll manage.”

Reinier de Ridder makes his highly anticipated return to action at ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs Moraes III on Prime Video. He locks horns with Brazilian jiu-jitsu phenom Tye Ruotolo in a middleweight submission grappling match.

The event broadcasts live from 1stBank Center in Colorado on Friday, May 5th, and streams for free in the United States and Canada via Amazon Prime.